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Is online betting legal in India?

Get the full overview of the legal situation of betting in India right here

Answer: Yes, online betting is legal in India.

There are no federal laws against online betting in India.

Each state may decide if they want to impose laws on online betting. And so far, only a few states in India have made laws against online betting.

In summary, this means that online betting is legal in India, with the exception of a few states.

Legal Disclaimer

Please be advised: We are not lawyers, advocates, or legal experts.

The legal information contained within this article has been compiled through careful research and conversations with legal experts on the topic.

We have done all that we can to answer the question truthfully, but if you want a legally binding answer, we advise that you contact a lawyer for yourself.

Before you start online betting, it is important that you choose a legal betting site

List of Legal Betting Sites in India

Parimatch

  • Modern and user-friendly interface
  • Amazing cricket betting platform
  • Offers a functional betting exchange
  • Customer support could be better
Welcome Offer
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Website: in.parimatch.comFounded: 1994
Owner: PMSPORT N.VHeadquarters: Limassol, Cyprus

Summary

Author: Tomesh Kulkarni Tomesh Kulkarni

1xBet

Exclusive Welcome Bonus
  • Biggest selection of betting options
  • No Limit Betting: Bet as much as you want!
  • Large array of profitable promotions
  • Slow money withdrawals are common
  • Website can feel overwhelming
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Exclusive Bonus Code: MYBVIP
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Website: www.1xbet.comFounded: 2011
Owner: 1X Corp N.V.Headquarters: Cyprus
1Xbet Review India
1Xbet Virtual Sports
1Xbet Casino

Summary

Author: Tomesh Kulkarni Tomesh Kulkarni

22Bet

  • One of the biggest sportsbooks in India
  • Great welcome bonus with low wagering
  • Higher betting odds compared to market average
  • Betting platform looks outdated
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Website: www.22bet.comFounded: 2017
Owner: Marikit Holdings LtdHeadquarters: Chrysanthou, Cyprus
22Bet Cricket
22Bet Live Betting
22Bet Online Casino

Summary

Author: Tomesh Kulkarni Tomesh Kulkarni

10Cric

  • Provides a plethora of cricket betting options
  • UPI and Net Banking deposits available
  • Super fast withdrawals
  • No horse race betting available
Welcome Offer
Bonus Up To ₹15,000 + Free Bets
100% Deposit Bonus
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Website: 10cric.comFounded: 2012
Owner: ZapZap MarketingHeadquarters: Cyprus
10cric promotions
10cric india games
10cric india front page

Summary

Author: Tomesh Kulkarni Tomesh Kulkarni

10Cric is an international with a strong focus on the Indian market. 10Cric offers a unique and user-friendly sportsbook filled to the brim with cricket betting options (along with many other sports). They also have a superb live betting platform and even an online casino. You need to check this site out!

Betting Site Rated: Highly Recommended ⭐

Visit 10Cric

Read full review

Fun88

  • Great variety of sports betting options
  • Regular promos and bonuses!
  • Convenient deposit methods.
  • User interface could be better
  • Needs more variety of casino games.
Welcome Offer
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300% Deposit Bonus
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Website: www.funn88.co.inFounded: 2009
Owner: OG Global Access LimitedHeadquarters: Isle of Man
Fun88 Sports
Fun88 Promos
Fun88 Deposit Methods

Summary

Author: Tomesh Kulkarni Tomesh Kulkarni

Fun88 is an awesome betting site that is rooted in Asia and has thousands of loyal players from India. As a player on Fun88, you get access to a fun sportsbook and tons of awesome bonuses and promotions.

Making deposits and withdrawals on this site is made simple and easy with the help of UPI, PhonePe, GooglePay, and other convenient payment methods. If this sounds appealing to you, then head over to Fun88 and check out the action now!

Betting Site Rated: Recommended ⭐

Visit Fun88!

Read full review

Bettilt

  • Modern betting site
  • Superb live betting platform
  • Daily betting competitions
  • Bettilt app available for Android & iOS
  • Bettilt is a new betting site with no long track record
Welcome Offer
₹44,000 Welcome Package + ₹1,000 in Free Bets (Special Offer)
Claim Go to website
Website: bettilt.comFounded: 2019
Owner: Striking StingrayHeadquarters: Cyprus
Bettilt Sportsbook
Bettilt Live Betting
Bettilt Homepage

Summary

Author: Tomesh Kulkarni Tomesh Kulkarni

Bettilt is a modern betting site that recently opened it's doors to Indian players. They provide a smooth and elegant betting platform with some of the newest betting features on the market.

Betting Site Rated: Highly Recommended ⭐

Visit Bettilt

Read full review

Betwinner

  • Provides great odds which increases player profits
  • Has a nice collection of European sports such as football, cricket, rugby and more
  • Big selection of convenient deposit methods: pay with Skrill, Neteller, AstroPay or Cryptocurrency, as well as many others
  • Betting site contains many games and sometimes appears cluttered
  • Good customer support is lacking
Welcome Offer
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Website: www.betwinner.comFounded: 2018
Owner: Marikit HoldingsHeadquarters: Limassol, Cyprus
Betwinner Welcome offer
Betwinner online casino
Betwinner cricket betting

Summary

Author: Tomesh Kulkarni Tomesh Kulkarni

Betwinner is one of the most recent betting sites to hit the Indian betting market. Betwinner separates themselves from the competition by offering convenient deposit methods for Indian players, combined with a great betting platform and awesome LIVE betting service that allows you to bet on several events at a time. Betwinner is a great choice for Indian players who enjoy live betting!

Visit Betwinner

Read full review

LeonBet

  • Simple and hassle-free sportsbook
  • Great esports betting platform
  • Unique "Quick Bets"-feature available
  • LeonBet app only available for Android devices
  • Live chat support on Leon could be better
Welcome Offer
Free Bets Up To ₹20,000
Claim Go to website
Website: leon.betFounded: 2007
Owner: Leon International LimitedHeadquarters: Belize
Leon Sportsbook
Leon Online Casino
Leon Bet Live Betting

Summary

Author: Tomesh Kulkarni Tomesh Kulkarni

LeonBet is a new betting site that just opened its doors in India. They offer conveniences such as a fantastic sportsbook and a really nice esports betting platform.

Does LeonBet have what it takes to become a popular betting site in India? Judge them for yourself - or read through this comprehensive LeonBet review where we will check out the details of what they offer.

Check out LeonBet now.

Read full review

BC.Game

Best Crypto-only Betting Site
  • Live streaming available
  • 40+ sports offered
  • Diverse casino with 2000+ games
  • Customer support 24/7
  • Only 1 Indian payment method available
  • No horse racing offered
Welcome Offer
100% up to ₹11,000
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Website: https://bc.game/Founded: 2017
Owner: BlockDance B.VHeadquarters: Curacao
BC Game Casino
BC Game Home Page
BC Game Sports book

Summary

Author: Vandana Vandana

Rajabets

  • Great bet builder for sports betting players.
  • Lots of bonuses and promotions.
  • Great pick for playing crash games like Aviator.
  • Does not feature horse racing on the sportsbook.
  • Does not have an iOS app.
Welcome Offer
Exclusive Bonus of ₹5000 50% Deposit Bonus
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Website: Founded:
Owner:Headquarters:

Summary

Author: Vaayu Saxena Vaayu Saxena

Rajabets is both a great bookmaker and a great online casino. Rajabets features many sports betting features like a Bets Feed to see other players' bets and even copy them, as well as a very user-friendly bet-builder. In the casino section, you will find one of the biggest collection of new games such as Aviator and other crash games, along with special bonuses, on Rajabets.

Read full review

Many of our readers have asked us if online betting is legal in India.

We understand why many of you are having this concern, so we decided to write this in-depth article to give you the most correct answer and guide you to gamble legally in India.

Indian online betting law is vague and unclear, which makes a lot of people confused. We are all good citizens, and none of us wants to break the law.

To find the correct answer, we decided to team up with some of India’s top legal experts to make absolutely sure that we are on the right side of the law.

Is betting legal in India?

Legal Online Betting FAQ

⚖️ Is online betting legal in India?

Yes, online betting is legal in India. There are no national laws that prohibit Indians from engaging in online betting.

Indian states may formulate their own gambling laws, and some states may have more restrictive laws.

However, in the grand scheme of things, online betting remains legal in most of the country.

  • Click here to learn more about the legality of online betting in India.

🤷🏽‍♂️ What online betting sites are legal in India?

All betting sites that are based outside of India can be used legally by Indian players.

However, betting sites are not allowed to operate on Indian territory.

That is why you don't see any Indian betting sites. They're simply not allowed to be based in India.

And that is also why Indian players use international betting sites such as Betway and Bet365.

  • Click here to view all the best legal betting sites in India.

💲 How do I legally deposit money to a betting site?

There are plenty of options that allow you to legally deposit money on a betting site in India.

Most betting sites accept deposit methods such as Skrill and Neteller. These are legal, but may not be the most convenient for Indians to use.

The best way to deposit is via Indian payment solutions such as Paytm and PhonePe.

Alternatively, you can also deposit via AstroPay Card, Google Pay, and more.

All these great (and legal) deposit methods are accepted on 1xBet.

🎰 Is it legal to play online casino games in India?

Yes. There are no national laws that directly prohibit Indians from playing online casino games.

Some states may have more restrictive laws that only allow games of skill and not casino games, which are usually considered games of luck.

However, this remains a legal grey area. And due to the contradictory nature of Indian gambling laws, they are not enforced.

  • Click here to read more about the legality of online casinos in India.
Betting legal situation india

The current legal situation of online betting in India

To give you the most correct answer to this question, we have allied ourselves with one of the top legal experts on gambling in India, Mr. Manoj Mishra, Senior Advocate in the Odisha State Bar Council.

Through our interview with him, he will attempt to give us the most legal and correct information in this article. So let’s start from the beginning.

We asked Mr. Mishra the simple question: is online betting legal in India? And here is the answer he gave:

"The legal situation relating to using online betting sites in India is decidedly unclear. The Public Gaming Act of 1867 makes no reference to online betting."

  • From this answer, we can deduce that online betting is not mentioned in Indian betting laws, and therefore is not formally prohibited.

Instead, the government of India has left it to the states to decide whether to legalize online betting or outlaw it within their own state.

We asked Mr. Mishra if any Indian citizen has ever been prosecuted for using an online betting site. He answered:

"We are certainly not aware of any Indian being prosecuted or charged for the offense of using a betting site."

  • This answer should put most people at ease. It shows that the government is not going around and prosecuting people who are engaged in online betting in India.
In Summary

Online betting laws in India remains a complicated and disputed issue.

Local state laws and federal laws sometimes contradict one another.

As a result, you will find that many legal experts in India have their own interpretations of the law.

Until the government of India imposes a more clear set of laws, we have to accept that online betting will remain a legal grey area.

Fortunately, we can take comfort in the knowledge that no Indian has been prosecuted, let alone convicted for using online betting sites.

Betting laws in India: The backstory

Gambling was first prohibited in India during the colonial period under the Public Gambling Act of 1867.

This law made it illegal to offer gambling services in all of India, as well as to visit and use a public gambling facility.

Indian betting law does not make any mention of online betting as it was made many years before the invention of the internet

So along comes the internet, and people start asking: Does that mean online betting is legal because it is not expressly forbidden under the law of 1867? The short answer is yes.

If the government of India had wanted to fully prohibit online betting, they could have amended the law to prohibit online betting, but they never did that.

Each state to their own

In 1950 the constitution of India was introduced. In the constitution, it is written that states are allowed to formulate their own gambling laws.

So Instead of imposing a federal law to either ban or legalise online betting, the central government left it up to the individual states to decide whether or not to legalise or prohibit online betting in their territory.

This means that each state in India has it's own online betting laws. Some are more strict while others have less stringent laws.

  • Example: In the state of Maharashtra, games of skill are allowed while games of luck are prohibited. The same is true for Karnataka and many other states.

In the state of Sikkim, the local government is actively trying to legalise and regulate online betting. They have begun to accept license applications from betting operators that wish to offer games in the state.

In most other Indian states, there are no specific laws regarding online betting, which makes it a legal grey area.

For example, in the state of Tamil Nadu, it is neither legal nor illegal to bet online. Therefore, it is not a prosecutable offense to gamble online in any state except Maharashtra.

India map of legal betting

Games of skill are legal - games of luck are forbidden

As mentioned above, many states allow games of skill but do not allow games of luck.

So what is the difference between a game of skill and a game of luck?

  • A game of skill is a game where you, the player, can increase your own chances of success by learning more about the game.

According to this logic, online betting should be considered a game of skill.

The more you know about a particular sport, team, or tournament, the greater your chances of success at online betting.

Example: Let's say Team India is playing a test match against the West Indies. You know everything there is to know about the two teams, as well as the pitch, the conditions, their form, etc.

Having this knowledge, your chance of placing a correct bet on the outcome of the match is much greater than someone with zero knowledge about the game of cricket and the two teams, right?

Therefore, online betting is clearly a game of skill, and as such, is considered legal in many Indian states.

  • On the other hand, a game of luck is a game where you, the player, have zero impact on the outcome of the game.

An example of a game of luck is roulette.

No matter how much you study the game of roulette, your chances of success will always remain fixed.

Once the little ball has been cast into the roulette wheel, it could land anywhere. And your bet is as good as mine.

Is betting legal in india

Horse race betting is a game of skill but cricket is not?

In 1996, it was decided by the Supreme Court of India that horse race betting should be legal because it is skill-based rather than based on luck.

This beckons the question, why is horse race betting based on skill when cricket or football betting is not? It takes at least the same amount of skill to predict the outcome of a cricket match, no?

Horse race betting is considered a game of skill - cricket betting is not!

Although we certainly agree that horse race betting should be legal, it seems odd to make this distinction from other sports.

In our opinion, the only reason why policymakers decided to legalise horse race betting, is because they know that if they prohibited this, it would be the end of horse breeding in India, which has become a very profitable and prominent industry in India.

One could also ask, isn't it hypocritical to prohibit betting, only to legalise it on a few select sports such as horse racing and rummy?

This is a classic example of the contradictory betting laws of India.

  • The government should be consistent in its policymaking and legalise gambling on all sports throughout India!

When will online betting be legalised in India?

Nobody knows exactly when online betting will be fully legalised in India.

It may happen next year. Or it may never happen at all.

No matter what happens, you can be sure that MyBetting will always be there to guide you to legal and safe online betting sites.

  • Do not be alarmed: Although the current betting laws are vague and unclear, online betting is still possible to bet online both legally and safely in India.
To get the best start, we recommend that you join one of these legal betting sites:

Best Legal Betting Sites in India

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